How far can I take this?
While I certainly wish that I had never had Breast Cancer, I have to say that it is because I did that I am now blessed with an amazing opportunity.
All through treatment and recovery I have been det...
Forum Discussion
Getting to know Sharon has been very inspiring and she sees herself as just doing what she can to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. To date she has raised over $250 000. She was only 36 when diagnosed so her message is particularly important for younger women who may think that they could not possibly have breast cancer and not get changes checked out. She and her husband do a lot of work with public speaking in the community, both inspiring people to follow their dreams but also spreading awareness about cancer. Sharon's Dad died of pancreatic cancer 4 months after she climbed Mt Everest.
It is because of people like Sharon sharing their stories and also using their particular abilities to raise awareness and money that there is more money to help improve things for all of us. Being diagnosed with any form of cancer causes you to lose confidence in your body and your health. I am fortunate to be in a position to be able to do this trek for my own personal reasons and also to help people realise that it is possible to feel strong and healthy again after cancer. Raising funds for cancer prevention, support and research is also helping me to feel we can have some power over cancer.
It is because of people doing things like this in the past that we have seen the improvement in cancer survival for many people over the last 20 years or so. If my Mum had been diagnosed with my Stage and type of cancer when she was the same age as I was when diagnosed, her chance of survival would have been about 40%. Mine is 81% thanks mostly to tamoxifen.
It is the thought that these sorts of improvements can be made that has encouraged me to do this. I lost a friend last year to bowel cancer (she was only 49, a wonderful teacher, friend, wife and a Mum to a very devestated 16 year old son). I have another friend who found out 2 weeks before he was to be married that he has Stage 4 Melanoma. He is 27 and expecting his first child in April (when I will be attempting the trek). Cancer kills terrific people every day and it is the thought that maybe I can do something to help, even in a small way, that has me willing to try my hardest.
Deanne xxx